Chapter 605 - 171: Shadow Divine Techniques, Path of Deceitful Killing; Soaring Resentment, Becoming a Demon in a Single Thought

Chu Fan was silent. Some people dream of roaming the world with a sword in hand, to see all its splendor. Others carry an iron staff into a brothel, also wanting to see the world’s splendor. With a light tap of his toes, Chu Fan subtly activated the Ghost Shadow Illusionary Body Step. His form shifted like smoke, moving half a foot to the side to deftly avoid Shi Hao’s "enthusiastic" hand. "Hao, easy there." He started walking toward the Demon Suppression Bureau, teasing, "Be careful not to grind that iron staff of yours down to a needle." "Hey! What’s that supposed to mean!" Shi Hao wasn’t offended. He hoisted the staff onto his shoulder and hurried to catch up. "I’m immersing myself in the mortal world to temper my state of mind!" The two walked side by side, and Chu Fan couldn’t help but ask, "Hao, didn’t you go to the Celestial Profound Sect? Why are you in Qing Province all by yourself? Where are Boss Ding and Lin Yue?" At the mention of this, the high-spirited Shi Hao instantly deflated, his face filled with indignation. "Don’t even get me started! It’s a long story!" He cursed angrily, "Damn it! I was trying to get into the Celestial Profound Sect, but who knew Boss Ding and Lin Yue would both pass the talent assessment, while I was the one who got kicked out!" "Those arrogant bastards from the Celestial Profound Sect actually said my aptitude was too poor and that I was untrainable!" Chu Fan’s steps faltered, and a look of astonishment crossed his face. He had spent a lot of time recently reading through the ancient texts in the Demon Suppression Bureau, so he was no longer the ignorant youth of the past. He knew the world was home to many mysterious, powerful sects, with experts as numerous as the clouds. But he never expected that a Demon Suppression Guard like Shi Hao, who was at the Fifth Level of the Divine Power Realm, would be rejected by the Celestial Profound Sect for having poor aptitude... ’Just how high are the Celestial Profound Sect’s standards?’ The more Shi Hao spoke, the angrier he became, spittle flying from his mouth. "I couldn’t take it, so I holed up at the foot of their mountain and trained my ass off, forcing a breakthrough to the Acupoint Realm!" "After that, I found a group of Celestial Profound Sect disciples who had come down the mountain to run errands and beat the hell out of them to blow off some steam!" "Who knew that would stir up a hornet’s nest? I ended up being chased for over eight hundred li by a mob of their disciples... It delayed my whole journey, so I only arrived in Qing Province yesterday." Chu Fan gave him a thumbs-up. "Classic Hao. Disregard life and death; if you’re not happy, you fight!" Before they knew it, the two had walked through the imposing gates of the Demon Suppression Bureau. Zhao Qingyan and Qin Fang were walking toward them. Seeing others present, Shi Hao immediately straightened his back and slammed his Coiling Dragon Staff on the ground with a dull THUD. With a swaggering air, he raised his voice an octave. "Brother! If anyone here in the Qing Province Demon Suppression Bureau gives you any trouble, even the slightest bit, you just tell me!" "This iron staff of mine isn’t just for show! I’ll definitely help you get your revenge!" He looked for all the world like a gang leader protecting one of his own. Zhao Qingyan and Qin Fang stopped in their tracks, looking at the man with complicated expressions. ’Bully Chu Fan?’ ’In the entire Qing Province Demon Suppression Bureau, who would dare provoke this fiend?’ The last one who tried, that overconfident fool Tang Tinghua, had relied on Pei Yufeng’s backing to provoke Chu Fan. He ended up getting beaten so badly he couldn’t even take care of himself—right in front of Pei Yufeng. ’The guy looks harmless, but when a fight starts, he can tear a Bright Heart Realm Demon Puppet to pieces. Who would dare mess with him?’ Just then, the door to the assembly hall swung open. Demon Suppression Captain Xiao Ziye, dressed in a sharp purple uniform that gave her a heroic air, walked out. Shi Hao, who had been posturing just a moment before, brightened up. Overjoyed, he waved his arm and shouted, "Auntie!" Chu Fan was stunned. He glanced in disbelief from Shi Hao to the beautiful and aloof Xiao Ziye. ’Shi Hao is Xiao Ziye’s nephew?’ While he was still dazed, SWOOSH— The seemingly ordinary Fire Stick in Xiao Ziye’s hand transformed into a black blur, shooting forward with a piercing whistle, aimed mercilessly— With a loud, crisp THWACK, it landed squarely on Shi Hao’s massive head. "HISS—!" Shi Hao sucked in a sharp breath from the pain, rubbing his head furiously and grimacing. Xiao Ziye beckoned, catching the returning "Fire Stick." She said coldly, "Where did this brat come from, acting so brazenly? How dare you shout and cause a scene in the Demon Suppression Bureau and address me, your Captain, by name?" "Huh?" Rubbing the large lump now swelling on his head, Shi Hao cried out resentfully, "I called you Auntie, not Xiao Ziye! I’m your nephew, Shi Hao!" "Nephew?" Xiao Ziye narrowed her long, phoenix-like eyes and sized Shi Hao up for a long moment. Suddenly, her lips curled into a grin. Her cold, glamorous expression shattered as she burst into unladylike laughter. "Hahahahaha! I’m just messing with you... You were all fooled by my acting, weren’t you?" Chu Fan rolled his eyes and wiped away a bead of sweat. Shi Hao, Zhao Qingyan, and Qin Fang were all speechless. Suddenly... Xiao Ziye cut off her laughter, turned to Zhao Qingyan, and asked with a perfectly straight face, "Is this kid really my nephew? What was his name again?" Shi Hao’s hand, still clutching his head, froze in mid-air. But then Xiao Ziye pointed at Chu Fan and said, "If I remember correctly, Chu Fan is my real nephew, isn’t he?" Chu Fan, Shi Hao, and the others: "..."